Duterte set to veto items in ’21 budget

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will be vetoing some portions of the P4.5-trillion national  budget for 2021, which he will be signing on Monday.

“It’s sure that there will be a veto message,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. “The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is ready with its recommendations and we can expect the President to approve them.”

Roque refused to reveal the items which the President will veto, pending a formal announcement from Malacañang and the DBM, which have been reviewing the budget ratified early this month by Congress.

Economic and finance managers have described the 2021 budget as a COVID-19 budget, with appropriations aimed at boosting the government’s fight against the virus through vaccinations and to beef up the economy severely affected by the pandemic.

Duterte is expected to sign the budget in a symbolic ceremony in Malacañang with some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Chief Executive has cut short his stay in Davao City, where he spent the Christmas holidays, to be able to hold a special meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases today.

The President wants to determine the next move in addressing the new variant of COVID-19 during the special meeting, the Palace said.